RESUMEN

This article examines the connection between human rights and elder abuse, employing a human rights-based approach. Through a critical examination of a fictional case study on elder abuse, the discussion highlights the vital role of nurses when safeguarding the rights of older individuals in residential care settings. The PANEL framework - encompassing Participation, Accountability, Non-discrimination, Empowerment and Legality - is a comprehensive guide for safeguarding practice and is applied to the example provided. By applying this human rights-based approach, nurses can proactively address elder abuse, ensuring individuals' rights are protected, promoted and supported. Through accountability measures, non-discriminatory practices, empowerment strategies and adherence to legal standards, the authors advocate for a holistic approach to enhance the quality of care and foster a safe environment for older adults.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

The aim of the study was to assess the effectiveness of a short educational intervention to reduce ageism and enhance social activism among adolescents. The study involved a 90-min workshop for 318 Israeli adolescents (aged 11 to 15, 73.9% females). Familiarity with the concept "ageism" and attitudes toward older persons were assessed before and after the intervention. The findings indicate an improved familiarity with the concept "ageism," while adolescents drew upon concepts such as discrimination and racism to define ageism. Following the intervention, a diverse range of age-related stereotypes emerged, signaling a shift toward more positive perceptions, with notable growth in positive age stereotypes, especially among females. Finally, about two-thirds of created memes targeted ageism against older persons, 18.98% promoted an age-inclusive world, and 17.15% addressed ageism toward children and young persons. Implications for reducing ageism in adolescence and for measuring social change in ageism are discussed.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: The global increase in life expectancy has significantly raised the elderly population. In Türkiye, the proportion of individuals aged 65 and over rose from 8.8% in 2018 to 10.2% in 2023. This demographic shift necessitates the planning of social and health services for the elderly. Ageism affects elderly health negatively and is prevalent in healthcare settings. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ageism among resident physicians at Pamukkale University Hospital and identify factors influencing their preferences for providing healthcare to elderly patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted at Pamukkale University Hospital between 6 June and 16 June, 2024. A total of 448 resident physicians were selected through simple random sampling. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire, which included sociodemographic information, factors affecting ageism, and the Fraboni Scale of Ageism (FSA). Descriptive statistics, Chi-square tests, and logistic regression were used to evaluate factors influencing healthcare preferences. RESULTS: The FSA score averaged 71.89 ± 7.87, indicating a 20.1% (95% CI:16.48-24.10) prevalence of age discrimination among resident physicians. Logistic regression analysis revealed that male participants (odds ratio (OR) = 1.519, P = 0.042), those with moderate to very poor perceived knowledge of elderly health (OR = 2.418, P < 0.001), and higher FSA scores (OR = 1.046, P < 0.001) were more likely to prefer not providing healthcare services to elderly patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ageism among resident physicians is prevalent, impacting their willingness to provide care to elderly patients. Gender, perceived knowledge, and ageist attitudes influence their preferences for providing healthcare to elderly patients. Addressing these factors is crucial for improving healthcare services for the elderly.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The lack of psychotherapy in nursing homes can be explained by organisational obstacles but also by practitioners' reservations about this patient group and setting. This study aimed to inform practice by qualitatively exploring the experiences of psychotherapists delivering cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) to residents of nursing homes diagnosed with depression. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Semi-structured interviews with six psychotherapists, who had delivered treatment within the DAVOS project (Depression in the nursing home: a cluster-randomized stepped-wedge collaborative case management approach to improve treatment) were recorded, transcribed, and analysed using a deductive-inductive content analysis. RESULTS: Therapists experienced various difficulties, including practical (e.g., multi-professional collaboration) and existential issues (e.g., confrontation with their own mortality). Participants described correcting some stereotypical images of older people (in need of care) through their work within the DAVOS project. However, evidence of ageism was still included in their reports. In the interviews, psychotherapists more experienced with older patients addressed more existential issues, whereas more novice therapists tended to focus more on practical difficulties. DISCUSSION AND IMPLICATIONS: To ensure a more effective implementation of psychotherapeutic treatment in nursing homes, it appears necessary to address important contextual factors that facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration, interference free treatment rooms and tele-assisted sessions. Further, more setting-specific training, targeted supervision regarding death and suicide, and interventions that address stereotypical images of age and older people in residential care are needed.

RESUMEN

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper summarizes the prevalence, impact, and presentation of ageism across multiple mental health care settings including inpatient, outpatient, long-term care, and criminal justice. Strategies for combating ageism are described. RECENT FINDINGS: Ageism is a common form of bias that has deleterious medical and psychosocial consequences for older adults. Ageism manifests in a variety of ways in mental health settings. Clinical, educational, and public policy strategies are recommended to combat ageism in mental health settings. Ageism remains pervasive in society and in mental health care settings. Ageism impacts healthcare trainees, healthcare providers, healthcare systems, and older adults themselves. Age-friendly practices and strategies for combating ageism exist and need broader dissemination.

RESUMEN

This study explores the dual challenges of ageism and professional recognition faced by senior nurses in healthcare settings. Utilizing a phenomenological approach, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 20 registered nurses aged 50 and older in Abha City, Saudi Arabia. The analysis revealed four key themes: experiences of ageism, its impact on professional roles, discrimination and stigmatization, and the need for organizational support. Findings indicate that age-related biases lead to significant professional marginalization, reduced job satisfaction, and emotional distress among senior nurses. The study highlights the critical need for comprehensive policies, organizational support, and cultural changes to address ageism and recognize the valuable contributions of senior nurses. Promoting an inclusive work environment and equitable professional development opportunities can enhance the overall quality of care and job satisfaction for older nurses.

RESUMEN

Anxiety about ageing, as well as old age, is rooted in public discourse and has a negative impact on the quality of the relationship with the elderly, particularly in the context of care relationships with more vulnerable seniors. This text proposes a theoretical and empirical reflection on ageism, manifested as much in its hostile as in its compassionate forms.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

PURPOSE: To measure radiologic science professionals' current attitudes toward older adults. METHODS: The Geriatrics Attitude Scale (GAS) paper survey was distributed to radiology and radiation oncology personnel in a large, single teaching hospital system. The GAS provides a global measure of ageist attitudes using 14 questions and 4 subscales. Demographic information also was collected. RESULTS: The total sample (N = 74) comprised radiology and radiation oncology practitioners from rural and nonrural facilities in the health system. Of the 14 questions, 3 yielded significant differences between medical imaging and radiation therapy practitioners. There were no significant effects for gender, race, years of experience, or facility type. DISCUSSION: Although significant differences were found between medical imaging and radiation therapy professionals for some of the constructs, both groups had positive attitudes overall toward older adults as measured by the GAS and subscales. Interventions to disrupt ageism should be introduced to make positive shifts in attitudes. CONCLUSION: The United Nations has declared 2021 to 2030 the Decade of Healthy Ageing; people are challenged to change how they think, feel, and act toward aging and older adults. This pilot study provides a timely baseline for further research as older adults continue to challenge the U.S. health care system for the near future.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Socio-structural and socio-cultural change in Western societies is increasingly challenging healthcare institutions to take good care of people's health and dignity. Further and sustainable progress in health care is increasingly influenced by socio-cultural conditions. If these conditions are insufficiently taken into account, further medical progress is jeopardized. AIM OF THE PAPER: The aim of this paper is to elucidate the significance of social conditions of health over the life course and thus to shed more light on one of the four ethical principles in medicine, namely equity. MATERIAL: The question is addressed by a literature review, whereby the literature was reviewed from a structural theory perspective. RESULTS: If people feel discriminated against in terms of their age, gender, or migration background, this not only has an impact on their self-esteem, but also on their health and recovery from illness. Unfavorable economic living conditions have a negative impact on health behavior. Experiences of discrimination in the healthcare system can reduce satisfaction with treatment and contribute to non-compliance with treatment instructions. DISCUSSION: The socio-cultural effects mentioned above can be influenced not only by individual changes in behavior but in particular by structural and institutional change processes. There is a need for "habitus sensitivity" in both clinical and private practice, i.e., it is also part of the responsibility of doctors in the healthcare system to eliminate discrimination.

RESUMEN

Policy makers and health professionals are grappling with the high costs of and demand for health care, questions of sustainability and value, and changing population demographics-in particular, ageing populations. Digital solutions, including the adoption of patient-reported measures, are considered critical in achieving person-centred and value-based health care. However, the utility of patient-reported measures and the data they produce may be subject to ageist beliefs, prejudices and attitudes, rendering these data ineffective at promoting improved patient experiences and outcomes for older adults. This article explores the ethical considerations raised in relation to patient-reported measures and the digital agency of older patients.

RESUMEN

As society rapidly digitizes, successful aging necessitates using technology for health and social care and social engagement. Technologies aimed to support older adults (e.g., smart homes, assistive robots, wheelchairs) are increasingly applying artificial intelligence (AI), and thereby creating ethical challenges to technology development and use. The international debate on AI ethics focuses on implications to society (e.g., bias, equity) and to individuals (e.g., privacy, consent). The relational nature of care, however, warrants a humanistic lens to examine how "AI AgeTech" will shape, and be shaped by, social networks or care ecosystems in terms of their care actors (i.e., older adults, care partners, service providers); inter-actor relations (e.g., care decision-making) and relationships (e.g., social, professional); and evolving care arrangements. For instance, if an older adult's reduced functioning leads actors to renegotiate their risk tolerances and care routines, smart homes or robots become more than tools that actors configure; they become semi-autonomous actors, in themselves, with the potential to influence functioning and interpersonal relationships. As an experientially-diverse, transdisciplinary working group of older adults, care partners, researchers, clinicians, and entrepreneurs, we co-constructed intersectional care experiences, to guide technology research, development, and use. Our synthesis contributes a preliminary guiding model for AI AgeTech innovation that delineates humanistic attributes, values, and design orientations, and captures the ethical, sociological, and technological nuances of dynamic care ecosystems. Our visual probes and recommended tools and techniques offer researchers, developers/innovators, and care actors concrete ways of using this model to promote successful aging in AI-enabled futures.

RESUMEN

BACKGROUND: Gerascophobia, or excessive fear of aging, is thought to be caused by a mixture of cognitive, experiential, and physiological factors acting on a person at particular time points. Measurement tools for evaluating geraschophobia remain insufficiently developed, despite this commonplace fear's distress. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the current study was to develop and validate the Gerascophobia or Excessive Fear of Aging Scale (GEFAS) and analyze its psychometric properties. METHODS: Three successive investigations were carried out with a total of 1594 participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted to evaluate the construct validity of the GEFAS. Convergent and discriminant validity was assessed by examining relationships with measures of depression, anxiety, stress, death anxiety, psychosocial illness, and life satisfaction. Multiple linear regression was used to investigate factors that predict fear of aging. RESULTS: The GEFAS demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach alpha >0.8). Factor analysis supported a single-factor solution for the scale (fitness indices CFI, TLI, NNFI, NFI, RFI, and MFI all > 0.95; RMSEA=0.06. Significant positive correlations were found between fear of aging and depression (r = 0.270; p < 0.01), anxiety (r = 0.311; p < 0.01), stress (r = 0.285; p < 0.01), death anxiety (r = 0.600; p < 0.01), and psychosocial illness (r = 0.243; p < 0.01). A significant inverse correlation was observed with life satisfaction. Gender differences were also noted, with women exhibiting greater fear of aging than men (p < 0.01; d = 0.488). CONCLUSION: The GEFAS fills a significant gap in the psychological/psychiatric literature as a useful tool for evaluating the fear of aging. The study concludes that the excessive fear of aging contributes to poor mental health.

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between social isolation, perceived ageism and subjective well-being among rural Chinese older adults and its mechanisms of action. METHODS: A total of 403 rural resident older adults were surveyed from March to April 2024. Data were collected using the General Information Questionnaire, the General Alienation Scale (GAS), the Perceived Ageism Questionnaire (PAQ), and the Memorial University of Newfoundland Scale of Happiness (MUNSH). SPSS 27.0 and PROCESS macro were used to analyze the data. RESULTS: Pearson correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation (p<0.01) between subjective well-being and social isolation (r = -0.720) and perceived ageism (r = -0.661) among rural older adults. Perceived ageism partially mediated the effect between social isolation and subjective well-being in rural older adults, and the mediating effect accounted for 29.9 % of the total effect (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Social isolation can reduce the subjective well-being of rural older adults through perceived ageism.

RESUMEN

Improving the quality of life of older age groups is an urgent problem of medicine, including its components: gerontology, phthisiology and dentistry. The objectives of the study are: to establish the importance of tuberculosis as an infection that causes the intensity of caries among patients of older age groups; assessment using the Palmore scale of gerontological ageism «The ageism survey¼ and patients' perception of an artificial situation of age inequality. The study involved elderly (n=122) and senile (n=121) persons with partial secondary adentia who needed removable dentures. The control groups of older people included patients who denied being under the supervision of a phthisiologist, and the study groups confirmed this. To solve the first problem, a comparative assessment of the values of the components of the CPI index in the control and study groups was carried out. To solve the second problem, an artificial situation of age inequality was simulated in the process of dental admission. The results of its effects were evaluated based on the response of patients to questions № 9, 10 of the Palmor scale. The absence of a difference in the values of K and N components between the control and study groups indicates the absence of a significant effect of mycobacteria on the development of caries. The large values of component Y in the studied groups may indicate the detrimental effect of mycobacteria on periodontal disease. The absence of an increase in the intensity and stability of the perception of age inequality among patients who are under the influence of an artificially created situation proves the great effectiveness of background age inequality. At the same time, it is impossible to exclude the low sensitivity of the Palmor scale in the process of diagnosing age inequality in Russian society.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVES: This study examined how digital literacy moderates the relationship between ageism experiences and social participation among community-dwelling older adults. METHODS: Regression analysis of data from the 2020 National Survey of Older Koreans with 9,920 participants was conducted to identify the association of ageism experiences with social participation in model 1. The moderating effects of digital literacy were examined by adding an interaction term in model 2. RESULTS: In model 1, both ageism experiences and digital literacy were significant predictors of social participation. However, in model 2, the interaction term of digital literacy rendered the association between ageism experiences and social participation non-significant. Model 2 explained approximately 18.4 % of the total variance in social participation. CONCLUSIONS: By highlighting the importance of digital literacy in increasing social participation among older adults, this study offers valuable insights for interventions aimed at improving digital literacy to promote successful aging in a technology-dependent society.

RESUMEN

Introduction: Iran follows global trends with a growing aging population. To better understand ageism in Iranian context, the present study explores the concept using a hybrid model with both inductive and deductive approaches. Methods: A hybrid concept analysis model was used to further define the concept of ageism. In the first step, databases such as PubMed, Web of Knowledge, Science Direct, and Google Scholar were searched for studies up until August 2019. Key terms used in the search included "ageism", "stereotype", "discrimination", "age", "aging" "old", and "elder". Subsequently, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 community-dwelling older adults chosen through purposive sampling. Results: Data from the theoretical and fieldwork phases presented a definition of ageism: "Ageism engrained into older adults (no other age groups) is associated with personal, psycho-social, economic, and especially cultural factors that impose an acceptance of limitations based on chronological age or being perceived as old". Conclusion: Ageism is a multi-faceted experience composed of psycho-social, economic, and cultural dimensions. While the present study has further clarified ageism, more research is needed, particularly in relation to diverse cultural contexts.

RESUMEN

Public perception of dementia has emerged as a key factor in the 2024 United States presidential election. The first televised presidential debate (27 June 2024) evoked a groundswell of concern about the neuropsychological health and political viability of President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. A rapid erosion of public support ensued, culminating in the collapse of the reelection campaign the following month. Political attacks on the cognitive fitness of world leaders create dissonance for clinical neuroscientists. We are ethically prohibited from remotely diagnosing public figures. Yet, we are also citizens with the right to feel and express personal concerns. In this commentary, I will address an often-uneasy relationship between politics and neuropsychology with a focus on the history and rationale for ethical guidelines such as the Goldwater Rule. I will also discuss lessons learned from recent events in the 2024 US election cycle about neurological health literacy (e.g. How is dementia diagnosed?) and broader impacts of age-based political attacks on global public health initiatives that target stigma reduction and improved early detection of dementia.

RESUMEN

INTRODUCTION: Surgical stabilization of rib fractures (SSRF) is associated with lower rates of mortality and fewer complications. This study evaluates whether the decision to undergo SSRF is associated with age, race, ethnicity, and insurance status and assesses associated clinical outcomes. METHODS: This retrospective analysis included patients ≥45 y old with rib fractures who underwent SSRF in the Trauma Quality Improvement Program from 2016 to 2020. Race, ethnicity, and insurance statuses were collected. Age in years was dichotomized into two groups: 45-64 and 65+. Outcomes included ventilator-associated pneumonia, unplanned endotracheal intubation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, in-hospital mortality, failure to rescue (FTR) after major complications, and FTR after respiratory complications. Logistic regression models were fit to evaluate outcomes, controlling for gender, body mass index, Injury Severity Score, flail chest, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, and smoking. RESULTS: Two thousand eight hundred thirty-nine patients aged 45-64 and 1828 patients aged 65+ underwent SSRF. No significant difference in clinical outcomes was noted between these groups. Analysis showed that the association of SSRF with ventilator-associated pneumonia, unplanned intubation, acute respiratory distress syndrome, in-hospital mortality, FTR after a major complication, or FTR after a respiratory complication did not vary by age (P > 0.05). Black (odds ratio [OR] 0.67; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.59-0.77; P < 0.001), Hispanic (OR 0.80; 95% CI: 0.71-0.91; P < 0.001), and Medicaid (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.76-0.95; P = 0.005) patients were less likely to receive SSRF. CONCLUSIONS: No differences in clinical outcomes were measured between adults aged 45-64 and ≥65 who underwent SSRF. Older age should not preclude patients from receiving SSRF. Further work is needed to improve underutilization in Black, Hispanic and Medicaid patients.

RESUMEN

OBJECTIVE: Both structural (e.g., ageism) and personal (e.g., stigma) barriers hinder older adult's access to and engagement with mental health care). These barriers are particularly problematic for those vulnerable to interpersonal violence and abuse (e.g., due to social isolation). This study presents a quality improvement program aimed at older adults who have experienced significant stress events, particularly elder mistreatment, within a larger trauma specialty clinic. Leveraging home-based telemedicine, the clinic provides evidence-based psychotherapy tailored to older adults' needs. METHODS: From 2021 through 2023, the authors retrospectively examined treatment initiation, engagement, completion, and clinical outcomes among 231 older adults age 60+ who reported trauma that met DSM-5 criterion A criteria for Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), depression and other mental health comorbid conditions related to their traumatic event. The clinic uses an automated measurement-based care approach that facilitates Quality Improvement projects, allowing us to track treatment initiation, engagement, completion, and clinical outcomes for all patients. RESULTS: The results indicated high treatment completion, high engagement with telemedicine-delivered interventions, and, most importantly, significant changes in clinical outcomes. CONCLUSION: These findings highlight the importance of expanding telemedicine-based mental health services for older adults, challenging ageist norms, and prioritizing older adults' mental health needs by providing tailored services to this patient population.